The Secrets Revealed

With or Without The Mask

(I do not own this video or the plot)

"NO!!! ADRIEN!!!" I scream. I reach up for his hand, and it slips past mine. He's too far away to reach. "NO!!! ADRIEN!!!" I scream louder.

"It's just an illusion, Marinette" Cat Noir says as he pulls me up into an open spot in the tower.

"No" I sob.

"Marinette - " Cat Noir starts, but I cut him off. He puts an arm around my waist from behind me as he pulls me up.

"Let me go! You can still save him! Save him" I beg him.

"It's not real" he denies. I refuse to believe him. It seemed so real. I can't bear it. I look down and close my eyes.

"...A - Adrien..." I sob more. Tears start to fall out of my eyes and down the Eiffel Tower. Cat Noir pulls me up more, and I sit on my knees. Looking down, I put my hands on my face and start silently crying, even more, sobbing even more. "Adrien" I repeat. I feel Cat Noir's hand on my shoulder.

"Marinette?" But I don't let him finish. I slap his hand away from me and sit with my legs held up against my chest.

"Why didn't you save him?" I scream, accusing him. "You should've saved him... Not me" I want my life to end. To bring Adrien back. Why couldn't Cat Noir save Adrien instead of me? I don't understand why I'm more important to him than Adrien. "Adrien... I'm so sorry" I sob again. I feel Cat Noir's hands on me again.

"Marinette? Look at me. Please," he begs. I slap his hand again.

"Leave me alone, Cat Noir" I turn away from him.

"Marinette, listen," says murmurs. I feel his hand on my chin. "I know that wasn't the real Adrien..." he pauses, and I hear a soft 'WHOOSH!'. "Because I'm right here..." he lifts my chin, and I feel his smooth skin. "Hi, Marinette" I feel a shock run through me as I see Adrien right in front of me. This isn't real. I know it. I can feel it. "Surprise?" he rubs the back of his neck, and I feel my tears rush to his hand. I grab his wrist and push him away.

"STOP!!!" I yell and then I make my voice quieter but still a quiet shout "Go away! I'm sick of illusions" I turn away from his shocked face and close my eyes. I feel more tears rush down my face like waterfalls. My knees are drenched in them, but I take no notice as I screw up my face to let them fall more quickly.

"But, Marinette. I'm not an illusion" he denies "Please, open your eyes... It's ok, I promise..." I can;t bring myself to do it. I need help, but I can't help but feel like he is an illusion. I feel his hand on my back, and I slowly open my eyes. "Now, I know you're scared, but please, look down..." he instructs me. As much as I don't want to, I look down the Eiffel Tower. "Do you see Adrien down there?" he asks softly.

"N - no" I answer back. I'm still sorrowful, and the tears just keep coming.

"That's because it was a fake" he explains "But me..." he grabs my hand and places it against his chest. "I'm the real deal... See?" I feel his heart pumping softly in his chest, and I instantly feel stupid for my decisions. "Would I lie to you, Bugaboo?" he asks teasingly and smiles. Feeling stupid and dumb, I fling myself at him and fold my arms around his neck. I feel him squeeze me tightly in return. He then pushes me away gently. "Well! Now that we've cleared that up, I'll be right back. I've got a bug to catch..." he winks "And some earrings to retrieve" he brushes my cheek and a tear away. "Stay here, M'lady" he kisses the top of my head. "Plagg claws out" he transforms and jumps away. I feel my face getting hotter and redder by the minute. I think of how he saved me all those times to different akumatized villains like Timebreaker and Dark Cupid. I think of how he fell out of the freezer when Lady Wi-Fi locked him in there and how I held him on my lap, worried about him. I think of how he made that smile when I told him we couldn't stay stuck in the bubble together forever and how he saved me from the time bubbles. I think of how I saved him from the lightning hitting him and him landing on top of me. I think of how he leaned in closer to me when I suggested a different way of getting us out of the cube cage. And then I think of something I would never think of us doing. Something that he would never volunteer to do unless he knew I was Ladybug. I think of that time when he sacrificed himself to Dark Cupid, and I had to kiss him to save him. If I had have known then that he is Adrien, I bet the kiss would've been longer. I'm shocked to the point where I collapse onto my back and stay there. Cat Noir comes back and gives me my earrings.